SKIPPACK — An 80-year-old convicted sex offender from Plymouth Meeting has been arrested for allegedly lying on background check forms in an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a handgun from a Skippack gun shop.

Pennsylvania State Police from the Skippack barracks said that Julius Clark Cuthbertson was taken into custody on Aug. 20.

Court records show that Cuthbertson was arraigned that afternoon before District Judge Albert Augustine of Skippack, who set bail at $5,000 unsecured.

Last month, according to state police, troopers began an investigation into a Pennsylvania Instant Check System violation that occurred at Pete’s Gun Room at 4059 Skippack Pike — court records indicate the alleged incident took place on Oct. 10, 2012.

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Police said that Cuthbertson attempted to buy a handgun and was denied, and that during the course of the investigation, it was determined that Cuthbertson “was not truthful” in filling out the required forms by failing to indicate a prior arrest.

Under Pennsylvania law, convicted felons are barred from purchasing or possessing firearms.

Cuthbertson has been charged with making a materially false written statement in violation of the sale or transfer of firearms section of the Pennsylvania crimes code, which is a third-degree felony, as well as unsworn falsification to authorities, a third-degree misdemeanor.